Family Treasure

Happy Sunday! It was March of 2001. A little over 25 years ago. I received an inheritance check from oil rich land that the Shivers family owned for generations in Mississippi.

It went back to my father’s father or even further. The land was sold and the money was divided among the heirs. Like the Beverly Hillbillies - I got me some oil money. I received a 5th of a 4th of a 7th of some other part.

The amount of the check that I received was $63.44. Now - that is not a monthly dividend - that was the whole amount. 63.44. I was reminded of that incident when I came to Proverbs 15:6.

There we find these words - “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.” “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.” Let’s look at the first part of Proverbs 15:6 - “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure” Does this mean that if you love God you will be rich? Sadly, you can Google this verse and find many videos of deceived people thinking that is exactly what this means.

I beg to differ. I suppose our issue is the word treasure. “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure.” I do not think that this means money.

In fact - I believe this is talking of a treasure far more valuable than money. Let me go to Psalm 103 to shine some light on this. David wrote these words in the first two verses of Psalm 103 - “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.”

As David continues in Psalm 103 he lists several benefits of righteous living. David mentions - forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, mercy, strength and grace. These treasures cannot be paid for with cash. Let me ask you this - Is there an amount of money you would trade for eternal life?

Would you forego the grace of God for a million dollars? Would you live a life without love for a pile of cash? The treasures that I inherited are far more valuable than anything that this world offers. My father was a pastor, his father before him was a pastor.

Because of their commitment to Christ, our family was raised to love God. We were taught to invest in the kingdom of God first thing. As a result, I would not trade my life with anyone. Let’s look at the second half of the verse - “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.”

Trouble befalls the income of the wicked.” The news is filled with swindlers and con artists who are in big trouble because of their wicked ways to gain money. Maybe the name Bernie Madoff comes to your mind - he bilked many investors of their hard earned money with a Ponzi scheme. Do you know where the word Ponzi came from?

It came from a man named Charles Ponzi who 100 years ago cheated people out of their money by making false promises. Google his story if you want to know more. “Trouble befalls the income of the wicked.” Ultimately, the income of the wicked will be left behind and if they are wicked and not righteous, they will spend eternity in the wrong place.

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus said this - “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” Today I am thankful that I know what real treasure is. “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.”

If you are from a Christian home, you should thank God for your exposure to the true treasure of this world. If you are not from a Christian home, make sure - now that you are a believer - that you leave a great inheritance of faith for generations to follow.